Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has committed to campaign for Amendment 3, the state’s proposed property tax cut set for the November 2026 ballot, marking a public embrace of a modified version of his original homestead tax elimination plan.
DeSantis told media outlets on August 31 that he plans to get involved in the campaign, saying “I think I’m going to be involved” and that “I’ll be involved somehow,” though he indicated the effort would look different from his past ballot campaigns and would not involve traditional barnstorming or large-scale fundraising across the state.
Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 starting in 2027 and $250,000 starting in 2028, up from the current $50,000 exemption. According to the Florida Property Tax Resource Center, if approved by the required 60% of voters, the amendment would cut local property taxes by an estimated $45.8 billion over five years.
DeSantis originally proposed eliminating homestead property taxes entirely on the first $250,000 of home value during a special legislative session in June 2026. The Legislature, however, modified the proposal into the current Amendment 3 framework. In June, DeSantis told reporters that “what the Legislature did wasn’t my proposal,” but he has since come around to supporting the revised version.
The amendment also reduces the annual assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5% and creates a pathway for future legislatures to eliminate homestead property taxes entirely by 2037. State economists project that Amendment 3 would reduce property-tax revenues by approximately $5 billion in its first year, growing to roughly $12 billion by year five, according to analysis from the Florida Phoenix.
Local governments have raised concerns about the revenue impact. Miami-Dade County warned it could face a $385 million revenue loss if the amendment passes. Public safety officials, library directors, and city leaders across Florida have cautioned that the tax cuts could force significant reductions in services including emergency response times, infrastructure maintenance, and public programs.
Florida Realtors, which supports the amendment, said it offers voters an opportunity to provide meaningful property tax relief while strengthening Florida’s commitment to attainable homeownership. The amendment will appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot.
Sources
- Florida Realtors — DeSantis’s announcement of campaign support for Amendment 3
- Florida Politics — DeSantis’s statement on involvement in Amendment 3 campaign and his original proposal
- Florida Property Tax Resource Center — Amendment 3 would cut local property taxes by $45.8 billion over five years
- Florida Phoenix — State economist projections of $5 billion first-year and $12 billion five-year revenue reductions
- Ballotpedia — Amendment 3 homestead exemption amounts and voter approval threshold
